CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – After simply riding the competition off his wheel Saturday and finishing with a whopping 1:42 gap over second place, Ryan Trebon (LTS-Felt) had a much bigger battle on his way to winning Sunday’s Chicago Cyclocross Cup New Year’s Resolution race.

Saturday’s rain was replaced by Sunday’s snow and howling winds, but the ubiquitously sticky mud was still ever-present on the course at Indian Lakes Resort in Bloomington.

Brian Matter (Gear Grinder) started the New Year’s fireworks with a blistering sprint off the line to take the holeshot and lead the field into the first corner. But it was Saturday’s main antagonists, Trebon, Powers and Jones, who eventually formed a lead group. Barry Wicks (Kona) chased in fourth place, about 15 seconds down, with Travis Livermon (Smart Stop-Mock Orange) and Justin Lindine (BikeReg.com-Joe’s Garage).

Powers and Trebon then dropped Jones, as Matter worked his way back into the chase group with Wicks, Livermon and Lindine. Trebon and Powers began punching back and forth, each trying to pry some advantage from the other. Jones fought back and made contact with the leaders briefly before the front duo peeled away from him again, this time for good.

With one and a half laps to go, Powers and Trebon were alone on the front, with Jones, Matter, Wicks, Lindine and Livermon spread out behind. Trebon and Powers took the bell together for the last lap, and the head-to-head battle for the win was on. Jones took the bell next, chased by Matter about 15 seconds back and then Wicks.

Trebon led early during the final lap, with Powers glued to his wheel, easily matching the bigger rider’s surges. But Trebon put in one last huge effort just before the sand pit and stretched out the thinnest of gaps, just enough to carry his lead to the finish line and notch his second win in two days, providing a big confidence boost before Nationals in Madison later this week.

Powers crossed the line next for his second runner-up result in two days, followed by Jones, Matter and then Wicks.

Later, Powers happily admitted that Trebon was the stronger of the two this weekend, saying, “They should put up a sign that says ‘Ryan Trebon Park.’ This is a perfect event for him. He’s got a lot of power and he can just throw it down.”

Said Trebon, “I’m just happy to be back racing. It’s been a lot of training, traveling and trying to get ready, thinking about racing Nationals and getting ready for Europe. I feel good for next weekend, but there are a lot of fast guys coming. Jeremy is going to get stronger next weekend as well.”

Free digital issue:

Cyclocross MagazineAbout Us

Cyclocross Magazine is a print and digital magazine and website for the cyclocross community by cyclocross racers. We’re based on community-contributed content, which means we welcome content submissions from anyone and prioritize representing all aspects of the sport of cyclocross, from the most grass-roots scene to the highest professional level of the sport.